A last-ball six from the bat of Black Caps bowler Trent Boult has helped the Northern Brave to a dramatic one-wicket victory over Canterbury in the men's domestic T20 cricket competition.
Photo: Photosport
Chasing just 108 to win in a low-scoring and see-sawing contest in Mt Maunganui, a mid-innings collapse left the home side needing six to win from the final ball.
The final batter to the crease, Boult delivered the deciding blow, belting Canterbury left-arm seamer Ed Nuttall high and long over mid-wicket to secure victory.
The win took Northern to the top of the table.
Opener Katene Clarke was the other hero with the bat for the Brave, retiring hurt before returning at the end of the match alongside Boult and finishing not out on 32 from just 12 balls after an earlier onslaught.
Boult had earlier also taken two early wickets to put the visitors on the back foot.
Off-spinner Joe Walker led the way with superb figures of 3-13 from his four overs, while Black Caps leg-spinner Ish Sodhi took two wickets in an economical spell.
Black Cap Henry Nicholls was the best of the Canterbury batters, hitting 35 off 21 from No 3.
Earlier, the Canterbury Magicians chalked up their second win of the women's competition, beating Northern by 16 runs.
The result kept the Brave winless after five games.
Frankie Mackay's 43 and 37 to White Ferns batter Amy Satterthwaite led Canterbury to 142-6 batting first.
Kate Anderson top-scored for the hosts with with 49, who squandered a good start to finish well short of their target on 126-8.